Sometimes inspiration for baby blankets strikes in the oddest places. For me, the bus to the university offers a wealth of colors, textures, and patterns to choose from in design. The Amirah blanket started from two very different images: a stop sign, and a Persian carpet that I saw on the cover of a book. Both of these images had strong octagonal lines, a deep red color, and a connotation of pausing to be aware of the world. This, paired with the impending birth of a friend’s daughter—Amirah, which means “princess” in Arabic—plus the addition of some Wild Cherry yarn, and this blanket was born.

The octagonal motif on one side becomes a trellis pattern on the other; this large scale image is repeated in a somewhat surprising way in miniature for the border. This blanket may look complex, but the repeats are simple and predictable; a fun knit and a fit treasure for the new royalty in your family.